It’s worth noting that in blustery conditions, the fly doesn’t fully extend to the ground and therefore you must create a snow wall for protection from drafts and drifts. backcountry and even the Cordillera Huayhuash in Peru with no issues. The last thing you want is to be in over your head in a winter storm, and the 4-pound weight is awfully light (it’s essentially a sturdy 3-season backpacking tent with less mesh). The MSR Access’s “treeline” designation is a bit tricky. For backcountry ski trips when the weather is fairly good or you won’t be fully exposed, the Access is a really cool tent to have in your quiver.
#Sports authority alpine design tent plus
What’s more, you still get two doors and two vestibules and 29 square feet of floor area (our testers jumped up to the three-person version for extra space plus a canine). The double-wall Access toes the line between the 3- and 4-season categories, with more bombproof protection than a standard backpacking tent in a streamlined and packable 4-pound-1-ounce design. Enter the “treeline” category, and our top pick MSR Access 2. Many 4-season tents are overkill for mild winter conditions, especially when you can get away with a lighter and more breathable design. What we don’t: Limited to treeline environments or spring conditions the fly doesn’t fully extend to the ground. What we like: Ultralight for a double-wall tent yet decently protective. But the weight savings is worth the sacrifices for many alpinists, making the Eldorado the top minimalist 4-season tent on the market. It’s worth noting that many of Black Diamond’s tents are currently out of stock due to supply chain issues, but we expect availability to improve soon.īest All-Season Tent for Treeline Adventures 3. Finally, single-wall tents don’t breathe nearly as well as double-wall models. Moreover, internal tent poles are considered by many to be a hassle-they can be difficult to set up and can poke holes through the corners of the tent if you aren't careful. If you want extra space, a vestibule is available as an add-on for $170 (we’ve always been fans of a small vestibule built into the tent and don’t like the extra cost). Keep in mind that the Black Diamond Eldorado is comfy for one person and gear, but not roomy for two. Despite the toughness, the tent weighs just 5 pounds 1 ounce, which is just about as low as you’ll get for a serious mountaineering tent. Most importantly, durability and build quality are superb-it has been used on Everest expeditions and been proven over decades of alpine use. Despite numerous updates over the years, this single-wall, two-pole tent has withstood a whole lot of blustery winter nights and summit pushes. What we don’t: Mediocre ventilation and internal pole structure. And if weight isn’t an issue-which might be the case if you have porters or are flying into an area-the Trango comes in 3- and 4-person models for even more basecamp luxury.īest Single-Wall Mountaineering Tent 2. One upside of the Trango 2 is that it’s easy to divvy up with your climbing partner to split the weight (single-wall tents often are not). Some feel that the extra pounds are worth the added features and space, while others want to get up and down the mountain with as little weight as possible in their pack. Ultimately, the decision between the Mountain Hardwear Trango 2 and a single-wall tent like the Black Diamond Eldorado below comes down to your winter camping style. In their most recent update, Mountain Hardwear added D-shaped doors for easy entry and expanded the bathtub floor for an even better defense against the elements. With two doors and two vestibules you get great livability, and the generous 40 square foot footprint is significantly roomier than any other 2-person model here. This tent knows bad weather as well as any other, with a burly, double-wall design and fly that connects not only to the poles but also to the body of the tent for added security in high winds. What we like: Tough build and great livability.Ĭhoosing our favorite 4-season tent was no easy task, but Mountain Hardwear deftly balances it all with their time-tested Trango 2. For more background, see our 4-season tent comparison table and buying advice below the picks.īest Overall 4-Season Tent 1. Given the range of possible uses, we’ve categorized the different models under mountaineering, basecamp, and treeline. Below are our picks for the best 4-season tents of 2021. Accordingly, these tents are much stronger than their 3-season counterparts with less mesh, more substantial canopies and rainflies, tougher pole structures, and a whole host of features designed for winter use. From backcountry ski tours to mountaineering in some of the most brutal weather on Earth, a 4-season tent is the last line of defense between you and the elements.